The business group backing a phoenix club met with Herefordshire Council leader Tony Johnson this morning (Tues).

Cllr Johnson was told that should the worst happen the phoenix backers would be willing to take a one single lease at Edgar Street on the area currently covered by three separate leases – allowing the council to take responsibility for developing both ends of the ground subject to negotiation.

The group has put together a detailed business plan to launch a phoenix club at Edgar Street should Hereford United (1939) Limited be liquidated.

The group first met with the council in June.

Group spokesman John Hale, director of Malvern-based polythene packaging manufacturer Hadopots Ltd, said a second meeting served to emphasise the group as a “serious and viable alternative option” for Herefordshire Council should the opportunity arise.

"It was important to once again state categorically that our business plan is all about ensuring there is a long term future for football at Edgar Street,” said Mr Hale.

"With that in mind, we have told Mr Johnson that, should the worst case scenario occur and the current club fold, we would initially be willing to take on one, single lease at Edgar Street on the area currently covered by three separate leases. This would enable the Council to take responsibility for the development of the two ends subject to negotiation. "

"We are willing to do this to make it absolutely clear that our proposals are centred on building a successful football club and are in no way about making money for personal benefit as we have seen suggested in certain quarters.

"We have also reassured Mr Johnson that the investors we already have in place expect no return on the significant investment they're willing to offer a phoenix club and therefore they are more than comfortable for us to agree to a variation of the current leases,” he said.

In a statement, the council confirmed that the group’s business plan had been discussed, but stressed that it was not “actively looking” for a new tenant because a tenant was already in place.

The statement said: “In the event that our current tenant is unable to continue operating, the council would need to go through a due process before making any confirmed decision on the future of the ground and its leases."

Hereford United are due back at the High Court for a winding up hearing next Monday (september 1).

Comments (5)

I thought a lot of bad feeling was due to the new owners allegedly wanting to develop the ground, this caused a lot of bad feelings, but now we are happy for the council to do it. Double standards.

I thought a lot of bad feeling was due to the new owners allegedly wanting to develop the ground, this caused a lot of bad feelings, but now we are happy for the council to do it. Double standards.B the B

I am most unhappy with what has happened to our great football club. The new management seemed quite happy to see us drop two divisions and made many promises that have not been kept.
Jarrod Bowen, according to the website, has still not been paid. Presumably there are others in the same situation. So, it is important that, if at all possible, the club is not liquidated - so creditors can be paid.
The present management stated that they now have a viable business with some big name investors interested. Yes, we have heard this before from the present lot and Keyte.
What happens if the club actually does come up with the dosh when they meet the judge at the High Court?
Will the 'Phoenix club' turn round and support the existing club? Will they look for another venue for an alternative club?
Planning for the possibility of taking over Edgar Street is sensible.
However, as the club is not dead yet, meeting with the council at this stage seems a bit premature.
Having said that the council seems to have met with many characters and their interests over past months if we believe all that is printed.

I am most unhappy with what has happened to our great football club. The new management seemed quite happy to see us drop two divisions and made many promises that have not been kept.
Jarrod Bowen, according to the website, has still not been paid. Presumably there are others in the same situation. So, it is important that, if at all possible, the club is not liquidated - so creditors can be paid.
The present management stated that they now have a viable business with some big name investors interested. Yes, we have heard this before from the present lot and Keyte.
What happens if the club actually does come up with the dosh when they meet the judge at the High Court?
Will the 'Phoenix club' turn round and support the existing club? Will they look for another venue for an alternative club?
Planning for the possibility of taking over Edgar Street is sensible.
However, as the club is not dead yet, meeting with the council at this stage seems a bit premature.
Having said that the council seems to have met with many characters and their interests over past months if we believe all that is printed.wyesider

B the B wrote:
I thought a lot of bad feeling was due to the new owners allegedly wanting to develop the ground, this caused a lot of bad feelings, but now we are happy for the council to do it. Double standards.

Development of the ground is not the issue.
Like a lot of people I am concerned that the current shower are doing just enough to keep the Limited company and the football club going, scraping along in the Southern league, while working on the development of the site with a view to relocating the football club so as to make a load of money from some very valuable development land.

The council are talking about development at the ends. This would have to happen anyway to fund the refurbishment of the rest of the ground and to pay off some of the debts.

Hale and his lot have said many things, just like the current shower, but it will be in their actions you'll be able to see what they are made of.
At least they are local people.

[quote][p][bold]B the B[/bold] wrote:
I thought a lot of bad feeling was due to the new owners allegedly wanting to develop the ground, this caused a lot of bad feelings, but now we are happy for the council to do it. Double standards.[/p][/quote]Development of the ground is not the issue.
Like a lot of people I am concerned that the current shower are doing just enough to keep the Limited company and the football club going, scraping along in the Southern league, while working on the development of the site with a view to relocating the football club so as to make a load of money from some very valuable development land.
The council are talking about development at the ends. This would have to happen anyway to fund the refurbishment of the rest of the ground and to pay off some of the debts.
Hale and his lot have said many things, just like the current shower, but it will be in their actions you'll be able to see what they are made of.
At least they are local people.mizza21

The Council must keep football at Edgar Street. They have been guilty of allowing the racecourse to fall into disuse - they can't let the football ground go the same way.
There is a clear plan here for an alternative club IF the current one goes bust. We've all heard the promises from Lonsdale and Co about investment. That's been talked about for months now and they have days left to actually produce the sums. I would love them to keep the club going but I've seen so many false dawns since they arrived I struggle to believe a word they say.
At least we have people prepared and ready to step in with a plan. And I am thrilled to hear Edgar Street is the centre of their footballing world.

The Council must keep football at Edgar Street. They have been guilty of allowing the racecourse to fall into disuse - they can't let the football ground go the same way.
There is a clear plan here for an alternative club IF the current one goes bust. We've all heard the promises from Lonsdale and Co about investment. That's been talked about for months now and they have days left to actually produce the sums. I would love them to keep the club going but I've seen so many false dawns since they arrived I struggle to believe a word they say.
At least we have people prepared and ready to step in with a plan. And I am thrilled to hear Edgar Street is the centre of their footballing world.AndyM442

Am i on my own here when i say i just wanna watch football....Hereford has been my excuse to go out for a pint on many saturdays and a few tuesdays to..
Yet all we have now are two sides supposedly aiming for the same goal having a handbag war...
I was unsure at the start of the season and in respect didnt attend the first two matches and heard from others there were 200 plus protestors..yet on saturdays game the police roped off an area and only a solitary policeman was there..and i saw one bloke protesting at a turnstile..where have the other 199 people gone..or did they only go to get there faces in the paper...
Support ur team and stop the rubbish..as if these people dont come up with the cash in the next week u can happily go and watch ur pheonix club and watch as they make the same sorts of mistakes..

Am i on my own here when i say i just wanna watch football....Hereford has been my excuse to go out for a pint on many saturdays and a few tuesdays to..
Yet all we have now are two sides supposedly aiming for the same goal having a handbag war...
I was unsure at the start of the season and in respect didnt attend the first two matches and heard from others there were 200 plus protestors..yet on saturdays game the police roped off an area and only a solitary policeman was there..and i saw one bloke protesting at a turnstile..where have the other 199 people gone..or did they only go to get there faces in the paper...
Support ur team and stop the rubbish..as if these people dont come up with the cash in the next week u can happily go and watch ur pheonix club and watch as they make the same sorts of mistakes..Randombloke